Lagatar24 Desk
Kasauli: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram has described Operation Blue Star as the “wrong way” to reclaim the Golden Temple, saying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ultimately paid with her life for that decision. His remarks have triggered sharp reactions within the Congress party, with some leaders hinting he may be speaking under pressure.
Chidambaram Questions Blue Star Approach
Speaking at a literature event in Kasauli, Chidambaram said that while he meant no disrespect to the military, Operation Blue Star was not the right method. “A few years later, we showed the right way to retrieve it — by keeping the Army out. Blue Star was the wrong way, and I agree that Mrs Gandhi paid with her life for that mistake,” he stated. He clarified that the decision to launch the operation was collective, involving the Army, police, intelligence, and civil service, and not solely Indira Gandhi’s.
Congress Leaders React Strongly
Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused Chidambaram of echoing the BJP’s stance. “After 50 years, what is his compulsion to target the Congress? He’s saying exactly what the BJP and Prime Minister Modi say,” Alvi told ANI, questioning if Chidambaram is under pressure given the pending criminal cases against him. A party source added that a senior leader “who has been given everything by the party should speak with responsibility.”
Historical Context of Operation Blue Star
Operation Blue Star was conducted from June 1 to 8, 1984, to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers from the Golden Temple. The assault involved tanks and heavy artillery, resulting in hundreds of deaths and deep wounds within the Sikh community. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation, sparking violent anti-Sikh riots across India.
